Is it Hot in Here?

"If you fail this mission, don’t even bother coming back."

"I’m so sorry Lon’qu. I…I wasn’t thinking. I can’t ask you to forgive me but I didn’t mean for this to happen."

Lon'qu didn't know, and he didn't want to think about it. Argh but he was too embarrassed to go back to his tent now... He had furiously backed Sumia into her own tent for a 'word' just a moment ago and now he had nothing to say....

The tactician smiled still quite sincerely at the Myrmidon. “I won’t spoil anything for you, I promise. Remind me to thank Sumia though. She’s got a good eye for books.” Morgan helped up his book and smiled. “She helped me pick out this one, actually. It’s called Oceansong. It’s about two lovers who meet by chance, but are separated when one of the has to leave and they’re on a totally different continent across the water, but then a war reunites them and…some of the chapters are really cool, because they’re told from the point of view of the ocean between the two and it’s written as if the ocean is singing to them and about them! Er, I don’t know if it’d be your cup of tea though, since it’s kinda cheesy and romantic in some parts.”

"Would you ever be interested in reading together sometime? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to read you any kind of grandiose tale but…"

Morgan figured he might as well be up-front about it. It still felt so weird to say it though. “…my uhm…girlfriend, Amelia, join us on reading eventually if you don’t mind. But for now, we can just keep it to the two of us if you’d prefer, just so you can get used to reading with me.” It was probably better to take slow steps with Lon’qu, particularly when it came to reading.

Lon'qu bowed his head to the boy in gratitude then gave him a little smile. 

He reopened the book to the first page and settled into a sitting position as he looked over the words. 

She would look up and glance at Lon’qu to make sure he wasn’t struggling. Sumia wanted to do more and try and help him, but she decided it’d be best to wait until the man himself asked for help.

He turned to leave then paused just as he was ducking and looked back at Sumia for a moment. "Let's do this again sometime? You're a wonderful teacher." And then he left without waiting for a response.

He clarified this because he wasn’t scared by her. That wasn’t it at all. Only surprise. Complete and utter surprise. “Can I… help you? Is something I am partaking in eliciting suspicion?” Lon’qu asked.

"Would you care to train with me?"

Panicking, she jumped up from the bed and grabbed her healing staff, ready to sneak out quietly before he noticed.

He sat up slowly and shivered a little, feeling as though heat was absent from him. "Can I help you?" What was the hour? Was he late to breakfast or something?

"That might look okay on you if it was actually, you know, your size."

Ricken sat in Lon’qu’s lap, and patiently waited while Lon’qu struggled over a word. Once the older man got a bit frustrated, Ricken piped up. “Hey, no need to rush okay? Just sound it out.” He snuggled his brother a little and pointed to where Lon’qu was reading to help him stay on track. It seemed like his older brother struggled with keeping on the same line or on the same word, and Ricken figured that keeping track of it would help him a bit.

He clarified this because he wasn’t scared by her. That wasn’t it at all. Only surprise. Complete and utter surprise. “Can I… help you? Is something I am partaking in eliciting suspicion?” Lon’qu asked.

That just about covered it. The swordsman considered asking Panne what SHES does all day but realized it would lead to pointless chitchat he wasn’t interested in. He then berated himself mentally because he could at least TRY to be nice to his comrades.

"Would you care to train with me?"

The knight really seemed to understand him, if at least on this. It was a nice feeling; knowing someone Got him.

"It’s a children’s book. I’ve had it for quite some time. It’s a pretty easy story about a girl lost in the woods. She eventually finds her way out with the aid of woodland creatures after being chased by some of the meaner ones." Sumia blushed slightly. "I’ve always loved the story. We can start with this if you don’t mind."

He reopened the book to the first page and settled into a sitting position as he looked over the words. 

"So what did Sumia give to you to read?" He gave Lon’qu his usual happy, upbeat bright smile. It was never really forced, it just came naturally to him to be positive. "Must be something super-interesting to catch your eye!"

Lon’qu cleared his throat, “Manakete Heroes, I think its the first in a small series. Tales about little manaketes that help out humans.” Gods that sounded so childish,but he couldn’t read anything more complex.

The tactician smiled still quite sincerely at the Myrmidon. “I won’t spoil anything for you, I promise. Remind me to thank Sumia though. She’s got a good eye for books.” Morgan helped up his book and smiled. “She helped me pick out this one, actually. It’s called Oceansong. It’s about two lovers who meet by chance, but are separated when one of the has to leave and they’re on a totally different continent across the water, but then a war reunites them and…some of the chapters are really cool, because they’re told from the point of view of the ocean between the two and it’s written as if the ocean is singing to them and about them! Er, I don’t know if it’d be your cup of tea though, since it’s kinda cheesy and romantic in some parts.”

"Would you ever be interested in reading together sometime? I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to read you any kind of grandiose tale but..."

"Hello Lon’qu. Would you like some pie? I think it might be pecan or something close."

"Try it."

Sumia hoped that no one would find her here, crying her eyes out like a fool.

"Oh hey Lon’qu. I didn’t expect to see you. Is there something…something you need?" Sumia wanted to talk to Lon’qu about what happened but at the same time she didn’t want to dump this all on him too. She felt conflicted but had a feeling that the man would offer his assistance. He was like that.

He hugged the other close and looked around for some kind of shelter. This was a mountain there had to be caves or something right? He would drop Inigo off and promptly run to find materials for a fire. But he also didn’t have much time to look around for said shelter as the sun was setting quicker than he originally had thought.

So, after a moment's hesitance, the swordsman hoisted the other up into his arms as if the boy was still a child. There was no way Lon'qu would be walking far like this, but he prayed it would help some.